Hawk Performance, a US manufacturer of high performance brake products, has renewed its sponsorship in the ARCA Racing Series.

Hawk Performance has been a participating sponsor with ARCA for the past four racing seasons and also is an official track sponsor at Road America, which the ARCA Racing Series is visiting for the first time in 2013.

“Hawk Performance is proud to continue the partnership with ARCA,” said Hawk Performance Marketing Manager Cody Currie. “Since Hawk Performance is an official track sponsor at Road America and with the largest brake pad application range in the industry, it’s a perfect tie to bring the ARCA Racing Series to one of the greatest road racing tracks.”

Road America is a four-mile road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. It was added to the ARCA Racing Series schedule, giving the series two races on road courses. 

“Road racing is a great way to bring out the best drivers and it is when braking aspects are most important, which is why we at Hawk Performance are excited to bring two of our partnerships together and offer the racers the best braking performance,” Currie said.

Carlsberg has been introduced as the new beer supplier of Chinese Super League for the next three years following a deal between IMG Worldwide and Carlsberg China.

The signing comes a week after IMG brought famed footballer David Beckham to China as the first global Ambassador of Chinese Football.

Following Carlsberg’s sponsorship with Euro 2012 and its partnership with the English Premier League (EPL) in 2013 as official beer, doctor this new partnership with the CSL marks Carlsberg’s continued support of the world’s most popular game. Carlsberg will promote the CSL and EPL – two of the most watched sports leagues in China – jointly in its marketing efforts.

Stephen Maher, ambulance CEO of Carlsberg China, said at the signing ceremony: “As the most commercial and most watched sports league in China, CSL is the crown jewel of Chinese sports.  As a leading brewer in the world, Carlsberg has a long history sponsoring sporting events, especially football. This new partnership will leverage the two partners’ experience and resources and improve the quality of the league, bringing the fans higher quality football and entertainment.”

Zhu Qilin, General Manager of CSL Co., added: “The CSL needs the support of its commercial partners to take the league to a new level. This new partnership will see Carlsberg bring to the CSL its rich experience in working with other football leagues and help build the league and increase its quality and influence.”

“We are very excited that, as part of this deal, Carlsberg will promote the CSL throughout China in conjunction with the EPL,” said Adam Zhu, Vice Chairman of IMG Asia Pacific and Chairman and President of IMG Greater China. “This new sponsorship agreement will help us build the brand and cache of the CSL. We have pledged that as the strategic partner of the CSL, IMG will spare no effort in promoting the CSL and Chinese Football.  Our dedication to the CSL and Chinese Football is more than a business partnership, and we are happy to invest IMG’s resources in full range,” Zhu said.

Male grooming brand BRUT have announced a partnership with Super League Europe (SLE), becoming Official Aftershave and Official Deodorant of Super League.

The agreement will see a campaign activated across all fourteen Super League clubs. 

BRUT will receive a comprehensive range of sponsorship assets including extensive in-ground advertising through perimeter boards, match-day programme advertising, interview backdrops and referee sleeve patches; as well as ticketing, hospitality, exclusive promotions and access to Super League players. 

Throughout the partnership, BRUT will be activating the sponsorship through a series of activities, through digital and social media outlets, as well as reaching out to the Rugby League community. 

Eoin Mullen, BRUT Marketing Manager, quoted on the partnership: “We are excited to partner such an iconic brand as BRUT, with Super League. BRUT has always defined the ‘real man’, and the synergy between us and Super League is instantly recognisable. We are very much looking forward to working with the clubs in our first season of the partnership.” 

James Mercer, Commercial Director at SLE, commented: “We are delighted to have a brand with such history and heritage associated with Super League. BRUT is a brand that sits perfectly with Rugby League, and we look forward to working with them, further immersing BRUT within Super League  over the term of the partnership. There are lots of opportunities that we look forward to working together on, during the course of the season, and beyond.

Duncan Lawrie Private Bank has announced that it is to partner motor racing legend, arthritis Mark Blundell, medicine during his 2013 race season in the British GT Championship with United Autosport.

The sponsorship will initially run for the course of the season and will see the Duncan Lawrie Private Bank logo appear on Mark’s race suit.

As a former Formula One driver, winner of the Le Mans 24-hour endurance race and television presenter for ITV Sport, Mark is a well-recognised figure in the world of motorsports. Mark started his sporting career at just 14, and for nearly twenty years he has competed at the very top of world motorsport, including IndyCar and World Rally. 

Matthew Parden, Managing Director, Duncan Lawrie Private Bank, commented: “Working in partnership with Mark on his return to racing is a fantastic opportunity for us. Mark is a very popular figure in the world of motorsports and will be integral to helping build the Duncan Lawrie Private Bank brand. We are honoured that he has chosen to accept our offer of partnership.” 

Mark Blundell, Driver for United Autosport, British GT Championship, said: “I love sports car racing; the teamwork, camaraderie, sharing the highs and lows. Presenting on live television was great but it didn’t quite tick all the boxes; getting behind the wheel of a racing car and challenging yourself is something entirely different. The support of our partners is a critical element of our success and I look forward to a great season with the support of Duncan Lawrie Private Bank.”

British racquet manufacturer, sales MANTIS has renewed its sponsorship of the 2013 Allam British Open as the Official Racquet Partner to the event.

The Allam British Open is the most prestigious squash tournament in the world and is the first major squash event to be held in a football stadium, generic with the KC Stadium in Hull playing host to the world’s best male and female players between the 20-26 May. 

MANTIS, a relatively new brand on in the market, is already being used on the tour by South African World number 20 Steve Coppinger as well as Nottingham’s Eddie Charlton, WSA top 25 player Emma Beddoes and rising stars David Ryan (Under 17) and Elise Lazarus (under 13) the European number 1 in their respective age groups.  

Martin Aldridge, founder and Managing director of MANTIS commented:“MANTIS are delighted to continue to be the Official Racquet to the Allam British Open and look forward to a great event in Hull. As a British company with a commitment to expand the brand in the coming years, we are immensely proud to be associated with The British Open, which is arguably one of the most prestigious championships in all racquet sports. ”

Jim Lord, Operations Director at England Squash & Racketball commented: “It’s fantastic that we have such a positive relationship with a truly British brand, the Allam British Open promises to be a spectacular event and we look forward to working with MANTIS over the next couple of years.”

Nike Golf is increasing its commitment to amateur golf by announcing that it has taken over as title sponsor of the prestigious UK amateur Matchplay Championship.

Now in its 18th year the Championship has established itself as the most popular matchplay event for club golfers with over 2100 pairs and 1300 individuals from 1500 different golf clubs taking part in 2012. 

With the signing world no. 1 Rory McIlroy to its roster of Tour staff athletes and the launch of the groundbreaking VR_S Covert range of woods and irons, 2013 is set to be a landmark year for Nike Golf with golfers everywhere recognising the benefits of swinging the Swoosh. 

The Nike Golf Matchplay Championship is open to all current golf club members who have an active CONGU handicap and there’s an individual and betterball pairs format to choose from. After entries close in mid May the draw is made on a regional basis to minimise traveling and then four rounds of knockout matchplay are played locally between June and September. The successful pairs and individuals from each region then go forward to one of the eight regional finals played in October with the leading three or four from each venue qualifying for the Grand Final at Vale de Lobo resort in the Algarve in January. 

“Nike Golf is thrilled to become the new title sponsor of the Matchplay Championship. Having been involved on a lesser scale over the past three years we have seen the competition grow substantially to become one of the most prestigious amateur events, attracting entries from thousands of ardent golfers in the UK,” said Angus Moir, Nike Golf’s EMEA general manager. “Nike Golf is passionately dedicated to ushering in the future of this great sport by developing groundbreaking innovations that enable and inspire athletes to become better and this partnership serves to reinforce our support for amateur golf.” 

David Hughes, Managing Director of GMM Ltd, event managers, said “This is a major coup for the competition, Nike Golf has been a great supporter of the Matchplay Championship over the past three years and we are very excited to attract such a high profile global brand as our new title sponsor.” 

Nike Golf is also a sponsor of the very popular European Amateur Golf Tour (previously the Volvo Amateur Tour) that provides amateur golfers with the opportunity to play competitively on some of the world’s most renowned courses. 

Mumbai Indians has signed on Bajaj Allianz as its principal sponsor for the next three years.

The deal, according to sources, is worth Rs 100 million ($1.8m) per annum or Rs 300 million ($5.5m) for the duration of the agreement.

“The deal will be for the back of the shirt,” says the source. “And
Bajaj Allianz is coming in as a replacement for MasterCard which
recently completed a five year arrangement for the same with the
Mumbai Indians.”

The Mukesh and Nita Ambani owned Mumbai Indians has already roped in Videocon d2H as its principal sponsor, Air India as an associate sponsor (its logo will feature on the back of players’ helmets) and also has Dheeraj Realty and DHFL as sponsors for this year’s edition of the IPl tournament.

Also fellow IPL 6 team, Chennai Super Kings has announced USHA International, India’s leading consumer durables manufacturing and marketing company, will continue to sponsor the team.

As a part of company’s plan this year to strengthen the brand presence and visibility through CSK and IPL, USHA will bring a host of exciting contests and activities for the Indian Premier League fans across the country. To build the excitement further, USHA would also organize ‘Meet and Greet- biggest fan fair’ for consumers to meet their favorite cricket stars of Chennai Super Kings team.